We've found Nemo!!!

If anybody is still looking for him it turns out he's been hiding in the reefs close to Pulau Perhentian Besar -just off the Eastern coast of peninsular Malaysia.

So after what seems a very quick 2 weeks in Malaysia we are now in Thailand. Sungai kolok to be precise. At the train station to be even more precise. We're waiting for our train to Hat Yai and we failed to realise that there was a time change as we crossed the border from Malaysia so we have an extra hour to kill. Therefore to I have decided to use said time to write about our jungly and beachy adventures.

After our rainy days in the cameron highlands the day we left was beatiful sunshine. Thankfully it was also clear when we arrived in Taman (park) Negara (National) -Malaysia's oh so inventively named national park (in fairness it used to be called King George V national park, but was changed at independance). Upon arrival we took thge boat over the river from the park entrance from the small village of Kuala Tahan in order to make plans and arrangements for our time there. Having booked Bumbun Kumbang (a hide in the jungle) for 2 nights we crossed back over the river to spend the night and buy supplies.

Day one of our jungly adventures saw us walk on the world's longest canopy walkway -a rather wobbly contraption made from ladders, planks and ropes. After that it was back down to earth to walk to the hide. The walk was fairly short (only 11km) but not easy. It ran parralel with the main river for most of thge time so there were many ups and downs across the plentiful tributary valleys. The jungle was humid, pretty thick and had more leeches than you can shake a guidebook at. We reached the hide with plenty of time to cool off and settle into the hide. Although there was dung promising of elephants, sadly we saw no more than a few monkeys.

On the 2nd day we left some stuff at the hide so were travelling with lightened loads aiming for the caves located further into the park. Sadly a lack of signposting on the trails caused us to walk a superfulous 4km however this did result in us seeing a bear!.............footprint or 2. After backtracking we found the caves in time for lunch, a nice and cool spot, if a little full of bat poo. That night we shared the hide with 3 other people but had no major sightings.

Day three saw us take a different -and far less obvious path back to Kuala Tahan. After a short while we came across a river about 15m wide and 1m deep with no way across it. So it was off with the boots, socks and trousers for a good old wade across the river. That, along with sections where myriad paths criss-crossed, doubled back on themselves and generally made you walk round in circles with a confused look on your face slowede us down somewhat. We still made it back in time to catch a boat to Jerantut from where our train left that night, headed North.

After the train it was a fairly easy 2 bus and a boat trip over to the Perhentian islands -Two small islands 21km from the mainland in the South China Sea. We stayed on the smaller of the islands -Perhentian Kecil in lemon grass chalets on the rather strangely named long beach. I suppose it depends on your idea of what constitutes a long beach, but anyway, thats not the point. The point is.... Wait, what's my point again? oh dear, it seems i've lost my train of thought -nevermind i'm at the station, I'm sure it will be along soon. sorry, bad joke. Lets get this blog back on track. Haha. Sorry.

The island was B E A utiful with crystal clear warm waters. We spent 4 nights there, played a lot of volleyball, went snokelling and managed to watch the england match, to boot. The snorkelling, whilst not even comparing to the Great barrier reef was good fun and as i have said we saw 'Nemo fish' as well as plenty of everycolour fish (well thats what I call them) and a shark and a big old turtle. On the whole it was a thoroughly good few days and cemented Malaysia a big Browlesy thumbs up!

So we're now in Hat Yai and it is time to get some dinner and see if we can find somewhere showing the england game at 2 in the morning......hmm, wish me luck.
xxMattxx